A thin film strip for aerodynamic body pressure profile monitoring

An array of polyimide-based capacitive pressure sensors, employing thin copper-clad polyimide layers as a sensing membrane, is presented. Transduction is performed by means of a switched capacitor amplifier and a micro-controller. Sensors, targeted to fluid dynamic airfoil applications, have been designed with the aid of finite element method (FEM) models for sensor sensitivity and resolution estimation. Wind tunnel experiment results are shown, comparing the sensor with a conventional pressure transducer. The device represents a cheaper and more reliable option to micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and to conventional electromechanical pressure transducers, being robust, conformable and smart for placement.